Saturday, October 26, 2013

Recently, I was talking to Justin about how I had the urge to go out and be social. I then came to the realization that I don't necessarily have that many friends around town that I can call up out of the blue and say, "Hey, let's do something tonight!" (I guess I never really thought of how much of a homebody/ introvert I am...) Not to mention that going out with my family and friends means either picking a restaurant that has Paleo options or having to bring my own meals and getting that upturned eyebrows, "You're weird for bringing food to a restaurant," look. I can't count how many times I've had to explain to people what my diet consists of and why I eat it...

Anyways, I mentioned all this to Justin and blurted out that I wished there was a Paleo Meetup Group or something of the sorts here in Rochester. To which he replied, "You wanna know how there can be one?" I then sarcastically said, "That I make one...?" and he answered, "Yes."

I thought about this for a minute or so and decided that was exactly what I was going to do. Therefore, I am pleased to announce the formation of the Rochester Paleo/Primal Meetup Group!

We're going to have our first meetup on November 3rd, at 1 pm at Roam Cafe (on Park Ave). Everyone is welcome to attend! I have the RSVP link below.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

It started back in December 2012, when I realized that while I was following a mostly Paleo diet, I was eating way too many sweets and treats. That whole month was basically one long sugar binge. I went from feeling good to just fair to not so hot.

I'd seen information about the 21 Day Sugar Detox program, created by Diane Sanfilippo, and heard that people had some good results doing it. After thinking about it for a while, I decided that this was just the thing I needed to get myself back on track. I dove in head first and did Level 3 of the detox. (At the time, I felt that it was better to go all in and not give myself the opportunity to cheat.) I'll admit it... It was difficult at first. I still craved some oh so delicious ice cream and post work day glass of wine. However, I made it through and realized that I felt AMAZING afterwards!

Following this first detox, a few months went by before I proceeded to do 2 more officially and one more unofficially. I've raved to my family, friends, and co-workers, about how this program WORKS. I even volunteered to be a "test" moderator to the forum on Facebook and helped to answer questions from other detoxers.

Well... I received my official copy of the 21 Day Sugar Detox book to review, and here's what I think:

21 Day Sugar Detox Review:

First off, I have to say that the cover is so bright and colorful, it just begs to be opened.

Diane adeptly discusses what sugar does to the body and how we come to crave it. I'm no science major, by any means, yet I was fully able to understand the science-y aspects of the breakdown of carbs into glucose, the formation of insulin, and the effects on cortisol.

I'm pleased to see that there's a prep checklist and a "What to Expect," section. I know that both of these would have been extremely useful to me during my first round of the detox. After having gone through a few rounds, I completely agree with what's said.

I love that Diane included a way to figure out which of the three levels is right for the participant and how to go about implementing it with a corresponding meal plan. This format reminds me of her other book, Practical Paleo, and she even includes some of that book's recipes.

I tried out two of the provided recipes: the Stovetop Lamb & Chorizo Chili (pg. 136) and the Savory Herb Drop Biscuits (pg. 188). The chili is an amazingly flavorful and warming dish that's perfect for a chilly fall day. The biscuits have a nice crumbly texture and don't taste too much like coconut, providing a wonderful accompaniment to the chili. (I'm not going to share these recipes. You'll just have to buy the book!)

All in all, I'd say that 21 Day Sugar Detox is a must read for anyone desiring to make a change and ditch the sugar monkey on their back!

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About Me

Hi! My name is Sarah and I'm addicted to searching for and trying out new recipes. What started as a way for me to develop my cooking skills and expand my culinary horizons, has turned into a bit of an obsession.

In the summer of 2012, I stumbled upon the Paleo diet and have since made the transition to follow that kind of lifestyle. Aka, I eat real food, lift heavy things and try to live a clean life.